The Hundred cricket competition is shaking things up. The upcoming inaugural player auction will span two days, taking place in London on March 11th and 12th. This marks a major shift from previous seasons, which used a draft system. The change comes after substantial private investment, mirroring the model used by the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The auction format will allow teams to bid for players, determining both their team and salary. This move has been driven by new investors in the city-based franchises. Several teams now have ownership ties to IPL franchises. The women's auction will kick off on March 11th, with the men's auction following on the 12th.

Team squads will consist of 16 to 18 players, with salary caps and minimum spending requirements. The men's competition's salary pot has seen a 45% increase to £2.05m per side, while the women's pot has doubled to £880,000. Additionally, the minimum salary for female players rose by 50%.

With fixtures already announced, the season begins on July 21st. The opening double-header will feature MI London and Sunrisers Leeds, two teams with IPL connections, at The Oval. Fans can anticipate 64 group stage matches, with the final on August 16th. The auction's success will be a key indicator of The Hundred's future.